Local News

Ch-Ch-Changes at Centinella Valley Union

LAWNDALE, Calif. (AP) — A Southern California school district is reversing some of the decisions made by its suspended leader who is under investigation for his outsized compensation.

Interim Superintendent Bob Cox said Friday he wants to reinstate summer school at Centinela Valley Union High School District, settle a lawsuit with the teachers union and change the physical education requirements, the Torrance Daily Breeze reported. "Our message in the last three weeks has been it is not business as usual in Centinela Valley," Cox said.

The changes come after Superintendent Jose Fernandez was placed on administrative leave following revelations of his $674,559 annual salary. Fernandez, who came under fire from parents and teachers, oversaw three high schools in the Los Angeles suburbs of Hawthorne and Lawndale. The campuses have a combined enrollment of about 6,600 students.

In 2009, summer school was eliminated to save money at a time when the district was dealing with a high dropout rate. Students scrambled to find other alternatives.

"There was no way for kids to make up the classes over the summer," said Jack Foreman, president of the teachers union, who hailed the changes.

The new district leadership is seeking to drop a long-running lawsuit against the teachers union.

The district had challenged release time given to the president to conduct union business. It also wants to require students to take two years of physical education classes instead of one.